Method of producing reinforced sheet cork



' Dec. 31, 1940. H. H. STRAUS 2,226,953

METHOD OF PRODUCING REINFORCED SHEET CORK Filed Oct. 20, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Harrg Hsfmus BY,

l I RNEY Dec. 31, 1940. H. H. STRAUS METHOD OF PRODUCING REINFORCED SHEET CORK Filed Oct. 20, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR glarn H Sfraus HIS g ORNEY Dec. 31, 1940. H. H. STRAUS METHOD OF PRODUCING REINFORCED SHEET CORK Filed 001;. 20, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 mv ENTOR Harrg H. Sfm us ZZMQ-L TTORNEY Patented Dec. 31 1940 PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF PRODUCING REINFORCED SHEET CORK Harry 1!. Strains, New York, N. Y,, assignor to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa" a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 20, 1936, Serial No. 106,666

ZCIaims.

My invention relates to a method of producing cork in sheet form with a lining, or reinforcing backing, amxed thereto.

Thin sheet cork has a variety of industrial applications, as for instance in the manufacture of cork-tipped cigarettes. The degree of thinness of the sheet of cork is usually necessarily high, and consequently special care in handling is required to prevent tearing. A thin sheet of reinforcing material, such as tissue paper, applied as a lining or backing for the cork, produces a composite sheet that may be handled with ease, free from likelihood of damage. Practice of the present method produces a continuous, composite sheet-strip comprising sheet cork of the requisite degree of thinness backed with a thin reinforcing sheet of suitable material coincidentally with the formation of the cork sheet.

According to the present method, a circular block of cork of a thickness bringing it within the classification of a disc, is rotated about its center, and a strip of suitable backing materialis applied to the width of the peripheral surface of the block during the rotation of same, preferably by means of an adhesive. coincidentally with the application of the backing strip at one location on the peripheral surface of the rotating block, a strip of cork of the desired degree of thinness, is cut from the peripheral surface of the rotating block at a suitable location within the zone of application of the backing strip. The

product of the cutting operation is therefore not a strip of cork per se, but a composite strip comprising sheet cork adequately reinforced by an afi'ixed strip of suitable backing material.

To insure uniformity of thickness of the resulting composite strip, and substantial uniformity of distribution of cork on the reinforcing backing, the operation of cutting from the block of resilient cork must be adjusted to a nice'ty. Pursuant to the present method, the cutting is accomplished by rotary motion of both the cutting means and the block of cork, the rotation of the block of cork and the rotation of the cutting means being correlated one with the other, and a progressive feeding the block of cork into the cutting zone being accomplished continuously.

Adhesion of the strip of backing material to the peripheral surface of the block of cork may be accomplished by any suitable means. According to a preferred practice, a composite strip of backing material comprising two component 55 strips joined in face to face coextensive relation by an adhesive possessing the .quality of retained plasticity, such as a suitable cement, spread between the contiguous faces, is fed continuously as the block rotates. The component strips are separated during the feeding process, and one of the component strips is aflixed to the peripheral surface of the rotating block by means of the thus exposed fresh adhesive surface.

Advantageously both of the component strips of the composite backing strip are adapted for application as backing strips. In this case two blocks of cork may be rotated in unison and respective component strips of the composite backing strip fed to respective rotating blocks for afiixation thereto by means of the respective exposed fresh adhesive surfaces.

In the drawings which illustrate preferred apparatus for carrying out the present method:

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of apparatus adapted to carry out the method according to a preferred procedure;

Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, certain parts of same being removed;

Fig. 3 represents a vertical section showing a fragmentary portion only of the machine illustrated in Figures 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 represents a top plan view of a fragmentary section of the product resulting from practice of the present method;

Fig. 5 represents a vertical section taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 1, but illustrates apparatus adapted to carry out the method according to a changed procedure, in part. Certain portions of the apparatus, appearing in' Fig. l are omitted.

Fig. 7 represents a section taken on the line 1-1, Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 represents a fragmentary side elevation of apparatus for carrying out the method according to a changed procedure, in part. Portions of the apparatus, appearing in Fig. 1 are omitted.

Fig. 9 represents a vertical section taken on the line 8-8, Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings; pursuant to the method, an annular body of cork i0, is mounted for rotation about its center as an axis. A strip of lining or backing material il, preferably tissue paper if the resulting product is to be used for cork-tipping cigarettes, is afllxed to the width of the peripheral surface of the body of cork continuously'as the body rotates. Preferably, as

illustrated, the body of cork is mounted for rotation in a vertical plane, and the strip I I is aflixed at a location near the upper surface of the periphery of the body.

coincidentally with the application of strip II to the rotating body I 0, a. thin sheet-strip of cork is cut from the peripheral surface of the body at a location extending completely across the width thereof, and within the zone at which the backing strip H is aflixed. For affording proper characeristics for the cutting operation, suited to the resilient cork material concerned, a rotary cutting motion is had desirably by the provision of a circular knife I2 rotating in preferably a horizontal zone disposed approximately tangential to the periphery of the body I0, and preferably at a low point thereof. The resulting lined cont'inuous strip of sheet cork I3, as a product of the present method, comprises the component cork strip I 3a, see Figs. 4 and 5, and the component lining, or reinforcing backing strip 3b. Advantageously, the two component strips are affixed to each other by a layer I4 of suitable adhesive.

In carrying out the present method a precise relationship between the body of cork I and the rotary cutting means, i. e., the circular knife I2, must be maintained. I prefer to-carry out the method by means of the apparatus illustrated.

A box frame I5 is fastened rigidly to any suitable, solid base support. The circular knife I2 is rigidly mounted on a shaft I6, journaled vertically, preferably centrally of the frame I 5, in the bearing brackets I1 and I8. Rotation of the shaft I6 and therewith of the circular knife I2 is accomplished by suitable power means, such as the electric motor I9, connected by the belt 20 to the drive pulley 2|, rigidly mounted on the shaft I6.

The body of cork I0 is mounted for rotation about its center as an axis in proper disposition to the cutting zone of the circular knife I2. Preferably the body is rigidly mounted on a shaft 22, the latter being journaled in the upper bearing ends 23a of the spaced, adjustable supporting legs 23. The supporting legs 23 rest respectively upon the travel-ends of respective side members 24a of a pivoted floating frame 24.

Feet 23b are connected to the lower ends of respective supporting legs 23' in a manner permitting longitudinal movement therebetween. By sliding the feet lengthwise along their respective supports 24a, (only one is illustrated see Fig. 3) to a mutually coordinated setting at a desired location, adjustment of depth of cut may be effected in affording any desired thickness for the cork str'ip cut from the block.

The floating frame 24, hasits side members 2411 pivotally connected at one of their ends to the frame I5, see Fig. 1, and rigidly connected at their other ends to each other by the cross member 24!). Centrally of the cross member 24b, and rigidly secured thereto, a yoke 25 extends outwardly, and is articulatively connected with the floating block 26. The stated floating block 26 is threadedly carried by a jack shaft 21 for up and down movement thereon, and is guided in its travel by sliding engagement with the stationary element 28. The jack shaft 21 is conveniently mounted for rotation in bearing extensions I5a of the frame I5.

A bridge frame 30 having its ends bifurcated to provide the spaced bearing arms 30a, and the spaced bearing arms 30b, aids in maintaining the block of cork I0 properly disposed relative to the cutting zone of circular knife I2. The bearing arms 30b, are themselves bifurcated to receive between the bifurcations thereof, the respective ends 230. of the supporting legs 23. The-shaft 22, see Fig. 2, is Journaled in the bearings of arms 3%. The bearing arms 30a are supported by a main drive shaft 3|, which is in turn journaled near its ends in two adjustable bearing boxes 32, (only one is illustrated). Such journal boxes 32 are slidably mounted on slideways 33a of frame elements 33 (only one set is illustrated).

The position of, and angle of attack of, the body of cork I0 relative to the cutting zone of the circular knife I2, is determined by suitable adjustment of the journal boxes 32, lengthwise-relative to their respective siideways 33a.

Rotation of the body of cork I0, and rotation of the jack shaft 21, are accomplished simultaneously by the motor I9, proper reduction of speed being had in the case of jack shaft 21, by means of reduction gearing. 7 Rotary motion is transmitted from the motor Hi to a set of intermediate pulleys 35 by the belt 36, and subsequently is transmitted to the main drive shaft 3| by the belt 31 cooperating with the main drive pulley 38. A set of pulleys 39 transmits rotary motion from the main drive shaft 3| to the body of cork I0, directly, by means of a belt 40, cooperating with the drive pulley 4I rigidly mounted on the shaft 22, and transmits rotary motion indirectly to jack shaft 21, by means of the belt 42, cooperating with the drive pulley 43. Speed reduction gearing, indicated generally at 44, transmits the rotary motion from drive pulley 43 at a reduced speed to shaft 45. Miter gearing, indicated generally at 46, serves to transmit the rotary motion from shaft 45 to the jack shaft 21.

A continuous, uniform feed of the body of cork I0 progressively into the cutting zone of circular knife I2 is accomplished as jack shaft 21 rotates to effect constant progressive lowering of the travel-end of the floating frame 24.

The strip of backing material II is preferably fed continuously from a roll Ila suitably mounted, as for instance between upstanding arms of the standard 50. The standard 50 may be secured to an auxiliary frame structure 5|, conveniently mounted on the frame elements 33. The strip II may be precoated with dried adhesive, the adhesive surface being moistened by passage over a roller 52 immediately prior to applicaition of the strip to the peripheral surface of the cork body ID. If desired, the strip II may receive its coat of adhesive directly from the roller 52. Moisture or a plastic adhesive may be supplied to roller 52 by cooperating rollers, indicated generally at 53, disposed in a reservoir 54 of water or plastic adhesive, as the case may be.

A pressure roller55 rotating freely at the free end of a hanging frame 56, the stated hanging frame being pivoted at one end to the arms 30b of bridge frame 30, see Fig. 2, presses the strip to the peripheral surface of the body of cork I0 continuously as the body rotates to insure smooth and positive adhesion between the two surfaces.

Desirably, strip II is wider than is the peripheral surface of body I 0 for insuring complete coverage of the latter surface.

According to one preferred procedure in the present method, a composite strip of backing material may be prepared and stored in rolls for use coextensive relation, being held together by a plastic adhesive 8|, such as a suitable cement, spread between the contiguous faces. The roll of composite strip 88 may be mounted, see Fig. 6, in the same manner as roll I la of the previously described figures. During the feeding process, one of the component strips 880 or 60b, hereillustrated as 681), is stripped from the other to expose a fresh adhesive surface for adherence to the cork surface of body Hi. The composite strip 60 may pass over a roller 82 mounted, as for instance in the standard 83, to rotate freely, and the appropriate component strip, functioning as a cover for the plastic adhesive, may be stripped from the strip of backing material at that point, the cover strip being wound into a roll 84, conveniently mounted for rotation in the standard 85, and actuated from the drive shaft 3| by means of belt 58 cooperating with the drive pulley 81.

Advantageously, .the composite strip of backing material 88, comprises component strips 68a and 80?), both capable of use for lining a strip of sheet cork. In such case, the two component strips of backing material 88a and 80b, are fed respectively simultaneously to respective bodies of cork rotating in unison.

Apparatus for carrying out .the procedure is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. Certain of the operating characteristics and many of the detailed parts of the apparatus are similar to those of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; like parts are indicated by like reference characters.

A roll III of composite strip 88 comprising the component strips of backing material 88a and 88b, is mounted for rotation on a standard 1|, secured to the frame structure 12.

Two bodies of cork l3 and H are mounted for rotation in unison, and are disposed in diametric opposition relative to the cutting zone of the circular knife l4, preferably on suitably configurated portions of a bridge frame 15. One end of the bridge frame I5 is bifurcated to provide bearing arms 15a and 15b for journaled engagement with the main drive shaft 3|. The other end of same, indicated 15d, is of substantially T formation in section for receiving on journal ends thereof, the bearing formed in the upper ends of the adjustable legs 23. Intermediate the two ends of the bridge frame, a vertically disposed plate portion 15c provides support for the horizontal stub shafts l8 and I1. Mounted on the stated stub shafts for rotation therewith are two bodies of cork l3 and II respectively.

Rotation of the bodies 13 and 14, in unison, is accomplished by rotary motion transmitted from the main drive shaft 3|. A belt 18, driven by the pulley 39, drives the pulley 19, which in turn actuates the miter gears, indicated generally at 88, to rotate gear 8|. Gear 82, rigidly secured to the mounting of body ll, meshes with gear 8| and thus imparts the requisite rotary motion to the body 14. The gear 83 is similar to, and meshes with,-the gear 8|, and transmits rotary motion therefrom .to the gear 84 with which it also meshes. Gear 84 is rigidly secured to the mounting of body 13, and thus imparts rotary motion to body 13. Since the two gears 8| and 83 are identical, and the two gears 8| and 84 are identical, the blocks I3 and 14 will rotate exactly in unison.

The composite strip 80, may be passed between a set of rollers 85, and be separated, as it emerges,

into the component strips of backing material may be applied to the peripheral surfaces of the rotating blocks 13 and M, respectively, in the manner described in reference to the previous figures, i. e., by means of pressure rollers 88 and 8'! respectively.

To take up any slack that might be present in either one of the strips 68a and 68b, relative to the other, rollers 88 and 89, respectively, are provided to ride on the upper surfaces of respective strips. Arms 88 and 9|, respectively, pivoted at one of their ends to the frame I2 hold the rollers 88 and 89 in place while allowing their fullweight to be exerted on their respective strip supports. I

The backing strip may be precoated with a thermoplastic adhesive material which, when the plastic adhesive material is in dry form, and at ordinary room temperatures, has the adhesive qualities thereof latent. Under such circumstances, the backing strip, coated with the thermoplastic adhesive material, may be wound into the form of a roll, such as the roll Ila, illustrated in Fig. 1.

In applying the backing strip I, precoated with the thermo-plastic adhesive material, to themripheral face or edge of the cork block III, a heated roller or plate maybTNubstituted for the pressure roller 55. Such roller or plate applies sufllcient heat to the thermo-plastic adhesive material to effect its latent adhesive qualities and such heat and pressure causes the backing strip II to closely adhere to the peripheral face or edge of the cork block l8.

I may use a heated plate in addition to, and in combination with the heated roll, such heated plate serving to smooth down, or iron, the backing strip II, to the face or edge of the cork block l8.

Any suitable form of thermo-plastic adhesive material may be employed that has the adhesive qualities thereof latent at ordinary or room temperature, and which adhesive qualities are brought out when the temperature of the material is raised above such ordinary or room temperature.

In the copending application of Edmund Claxton and Herbert Paschke, Serial No. 106,639, filed October 20, 1938, now Patent No. 2,163,372, there is disclosed and broadly claimed a method of forming duplexed webs, such as cork cigarette tipping material, in which a thermally activatable adhesive is used.

Whereas I have described the present method with respect to specific procedure in its Practice, it is understood that various changes may be made from time to time, without departing from the spirit of the invention as generalized in the claims that follow.

I claim:

1. A method of producing a continuous strip of lined sheet cork, comprising rotating 9. body of cork about its center as an axis, feeding to said body at a location extending across the width of its peripheral surface, a strip of backing material, the said strip of backing material having one face coated with a plastic adhesive and the plastic adhesive covered with a second strip of material, stripping the said second strip from the strip of backing material during the feeding process to expose the adhesive surface, affixing the strip of backing material to said body at the said location of feed by means of the exposed adhesive surface continuously as the body rotates, and, as the body rotates, cutting continuously by a rotating cutting edge a strip of cork 5 serves to'reenforce the cork strip at the point of severance from the body to obviate rupture oi.

the strip during severance.

2. A mehod .of producing in unison two continuous strips or lined sheet cork, comprising ro- 10 tating adjacent each other two bodies of cork about their respective axes; feeding to respec: tive bodies respective component strips of a composite strip of backing material at a location extending across the width of the peripheral sur- 15 face of the body, said composite strip comprising two component strips 01' backing material disposed in face to face coextensive relation with a plastic adhesive spread between contiguous faces. the said composite strip being separated into its component strips immediately prior to said feeding operation to expose theadhesive surfaces: aflixing respective component strips of backing material to respective bodies at the said location of feed by means of the exposed adhesive surface continuously as the bodies rotate, and cutting continuously by a rotating cutting edge from respective bodies as they rotate, a strip of cork of cigarette tipping thickness across the width of the peripheral surface of each body at a location within the zone at which the strip of backing material is afiixed so that the backing webs serve to reenforce the cork strips at their respective points of severance from their respective bodies to obviate rupture of the strips during severance.

HARRY H. STRAUS. 

